Shi no Baku

Singular: Shi no Baku
Plural: Shi no Baku's
Pronounced: Sh-ee n-oh Ba-koo
Meaning: 'Dream Eater of Death' in Japanese

Introduction
Shi no Baku are yokai spirits.

To summon them, one must write the kanji character for Baku in chalk on the wall or headboard above the bed before you sleep. The yokai use this as a doorway. Beware: If you wake while a Shi no Baku is feeding, your soul will be sucked into a void leaving behind an empty husk.

Species Origin
Japan

Life and Death
Born from fear, a Shi no Baku is created when a sleeping human has a night terror, but is unable to wake up. Thus the fear manifests itself, creating the yokai spirit.
Night terrors only occur within 1-6% of children and 1% adult humans. Resulting in the rarity of the Shi no Baku.
These yokai spirits will only die if their soul sphere completely empties.

Diet
Nightmares, dreams of stress and anguish and life force.

Supernatural abilities
- Consume dreams and life force

- Sense ominous auras

 - Open portals with soul spheres

 - Become translucent (invisibility)

 - Sees with closed eyes

 - Third eye (hidden)

Third Eye

 When a Shi no Baku closes their eyes, they have the anility to open a third eye. This third eye is never visible when thier eyes are open. This eye can be anywhere on yheir body, but most appear the forehead, palms, or the neck. The third eye is completely black. Its purpose is to see into dreams and nightmares when a Shi no Baku makes physical contact.

Age
Age has no consequence to this species. The larger their horns, the longer they've survived.

Physical Traits
All Shi no Baku have

 - Face mask

 - One soul sphere in hair

 - Elf-like pointed ears

 - Horns

- Fluff tail/tailless

 - Ofuda/shipu - a talisman hung from their horns or antlers.

- Black sclera

- Discolored finger tips

 

Mask
A Shi no Baku must always wear its mask unless it is feeding to keep the stored souls from seeping out. Loss of souls from sphere may result in death.

Soul Sphere
Where the Baku store their devoured human souls. Most are stored in the hair of the yokai spirit, tucked in a braid. Others can be found at the end of their tail. Preferable to keep the sphere full. Too much soul seepage can result in temporary loss of abilities, weakness and death. It's also used to open portals. They are connected to their soul sphere. It is there life source and without it they will die.

Clothes
Kimonos, yukatas, hanten, jittoku, tabi (split socks), zori/geta (sandals) tasuki cords, monpe, and haori/hakamas.
Rarely wear casual clothing.

Dream Catcher Antlers and Tails
Antlers and tail weaved with the Shi no Baku's own life line. They are amongst the rarest of the yokai for their ability to hide themselves in the dream world. Those born with only a dream catcher tail do not possess this ability, but they are able to capture a human's dreams.

For Your Protection
It is dangerous to approach a Baku while feeding. Thus, a talisman is hung from their horns to ward off other creatures. The kanji character for Baku as shown above.

Mating
- Shi no Baku
It's not uncommon for two Shi no Baku to become involved. By transferring souls from one to the other forms a fusion between them. Mating them for life. In this occurrence, both Shi no Baku would be able to sense their companion no matter where they were.
- Humans/Others
There have been cases when a Shi no Baku involves itself with a human or non-human. This can be very dangerous, so proceed with caution. Even though a Baku can go without a mask for a certain period of time, they are unaware when soul seepage may occur. Newer Shi no Baku do not share the same self control as a much longer resident of the world would have learned. As which there have been times of death during intimacy. Please take caution.

Ancient Shi no Baku [Extinct?]
Thought to be extinct, these ancients were born during primal times. It has been said that ancients have the ability to stop time and live in a single moment. They were also known to even steal youth from children to stay young and beautiful. Ancient Shi no Baku have two very distinctive features: multiple antlers (racks) and bicolored sclera. Their clothing is usually decadent and extravagant traditional wear like jūnihitoe and kariginu, including gold and jewels. Ancients thought of themselves as superior to all other beings.

A Little Culture
They're mostly loners. They rarely communicate with one another unless they venture into another Shi no Baku's territory. They can be very territorial as such. Bc they're born from fear, most of them have a sour disposition. Consorting with humans is not forbidden, but is frowned upon by most Ancient Shi no Baku.